The SOMM Journal

December 2014/January 2015

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18 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015
{
shop talk: spain
}
DEFINED BY GEOGRAPHY, TWO WINE D.O.S IN SPAIN'S NORTHERN
Castilla y León region have created an unprecedented marketing partnership.
There's D.O. Ribera del Duero, known for its red wines with their foundation
of powerful, yet fruit-forward Tempranillo; and D.O. Rueda, just to the south,
admired for its perfumed, crisp Verdejo-based white wines.
Enter Felipe González-Gordon, who, representing the Consejo Regulador for
Spain's wine regions, is helping to realize a vision for these two regions with
small but growing presences in the U.S. who are joining forces through a new
strategic alliance. "Ribera and Rueda share centuries of cultural and geographic
affinity, and it makes sense for these regions to go to market together," he says.
González-Gordon was just named Director for D.O. Ribera and D.O. Rueda in
the U.S. market, tasked with educating wine trade and wine lovers about this
ideal Spanish red and white match.
After gaining a large commitment from both D.O.s (€750,000 each), the
European Union also matched funds, making a €3-million per annum, five-year
plan to realize on- and off-premise sales, as well as to promote a cultural under
-
standing of these regions and their respective wines in the years to come, by
the industry as well as the American buying public.
González-Gordon is no newcomer to wines from Spain or to the U.S. mar
-
ketplace. His great-great-grandfather founded González-Byass. He grew up
working for the family business and in 2006 brought his expertise to the U.S.
"We had properties in Jerez of course, but also in five other regions throughout
Spain," he tells The SOMM Journal. "After seven years of developing González-
Byass's business in the States, the winery thought this ex-pat assignment was
complete. But by then, my twin daughters were about to start college and I just
did not want to uproot my family."
After parting ways with the family company while still retaining his equity
part, Felipe decided to start his own business, and now has the responsibility
of representing the regions of D.O. Ribera del Duero and D.O. Rueda and direct
-
ing their marketing efforts in the US. González-Gordon adds, "My immediate
goal is to raise awareness of these two regions in the U.S., and to have them
recognized as Spain's new power wine couple."
Felipe González-Gordon heads up the
marketing partnership of Rueda and
Ribera del Duero in the U.S.
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
FELIPE
GONZÁLEZ-GORDON
Unified in Red and White
D.O. RIBERA DEL DUERO AND D.O. RUEDA JOIN FORCES
by Meridith May
"It makes sense for these regions to go
to market together."